Indiana Leads Nation in Powerball Jackpot Wins

Since Powerball began in 1992, the Hoosier State has been home to 39 jackpot wins—the most in the entire United States.

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It’s fun to sit and dream about what life would be like if you won a multi-million dollar lottery jackpot. For me, I’d probably start by paying off all my debts before taking a lavish worldwide vacation. Upon returning to the United States, I’d likely buy a nice house on a large piece of land and might even start a small barbecue joint. I’d probably continue my radio career in some capacity as well. That said, I’m no lottery winner, but that could always change for me—or you—if you live in the state of Indiana.

Is Indiana the Luckiest State in the U.S.?

The state with the most Powerball wins is Indiana, marking the Hoosier State as the luckiest of the lucky. As of September 2024, Indiana has a total of 39 wins under its belt, with the latest occurring in 2017. According to Fox 59, that jackpot was the seventh highest in history at the time, valued at $435.3 million. Jackpot winners have the option to receive their winnings as a 30-year annuity or as a one-time lump sum. The anonymous winner in 2017 chose to take the lump sum, which was worth $263.5 million before taxes.

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Other States with the Most Powerball Wins

Just behind Indiana is Missouri, with 31 jackpot wins, followed by Minnesota with 22 wins. Pennsylvania and Wisconsin round out the top five states with the most Powerball wins, with 20 and 19 wins, respectively. The largest jackpot in history was actually awarded in California, which ranks No. 10 on the list for the most wins. According to Jackpocket, a California man won $2.04 billion on November 8, 2022. The second-largest prize was also won in California in 2023, worth $1.765 billion.

States That Have Never Won a Powerball Jackpot

Powerball has been around for decades, with periodic changes to the game over the years. Since 1992, all but five states or jurisdictions have yet to have a resident claim a Powerball jackpot win. Folks in Maine, Mississippi, North Dakota, Wyoming, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are still waiting for their turn. Of course, that applies to the majority of us, am I right?

Jackpocket notes that several factors can account for the winless states, including the number of players in those states and how long each state has participated in the Powerball lottery. For example, Indiana has been part of Powerball since its inception in the early 1990s, while Mississippi just joined the Powerball lottery in 2020. On the other hand, it could simply be that some people are luckier than others.